you need to get access from under the car , if it’s completely blocked you may need to remove some piece of the car to gain more room. Rarely is an oil filter impossible to access anymore, especially with 2010s-present day. But never know
fyi...as long as you're going the full destructive method of removing your old oil filter, might's well punch a hole in the bottom and drain out as much oil as you can first. Might even reduce the suction effect.
I just want to say that this was the best video ever. I was working on my 01 Miata today and the filter was not coming off. It took 3 trips to the store and 3 tools before looking for other methods. I finally tired this and got it off in about 5 minutes. I still cannot believe. I can’t thank you enough
PLEASE READ: You can damage your threads on your stud by doing this. I just did it and now my car is in the shop to replace the stud/adapter. MAKE SURE YOU PIERCE FAR AWAY FROM THE ENGINE. Hope I saved someone’s time and money
Just tried this guy’s method and that’s what happened to me. I ended up having to use a strap wrench-like tool to get it off. I couldn’t believe this method didn’t have problems for many people.
First, I would recommend using a screwdriver to pierce the bottom, and thus drain out the oil. I've had screwdrivers that just peel through the filter rather than turn the filter off, so I used a one inch wood chisel with the flat side towards the rotation...no peeling through the filter.
I knew about this trick but I was reluctant to try it. I had little room and my filter had already started to buckle from the strap wrench. After watching your video I grew a pair and went for it. It worked. I am repaying you with a like and a sub. You ended three hours of frustration for me.👍
You saved me money and time, friend! I spent almost 2 hours under my car trying in so many ways to take it off from my Ford Ka, and only with your tips, I got it. Thanks a lot!
Damn, you have all kind of room, I have a GM truck and I can hardly even get an oil filter wrench on mine, damn engineers know how to screw up autos for sure.
Not possible on most European/Japanese cars. Theres simply no room for anything but your hands. Unless you start taking stuff apart but who wants to do that for a simple oil change.
I’m having a problem with a 2000 mazda protege because the engineers decided let’s put the oil filter and have the alternator to the right of the the holding bracket for the exhaust manifold to the left of it and the drive shaft below that.
Thank you! This helped so much. Half the filter was surrounded by the side of the block, couldn’t even wrap one hand around it. A good engineer needs to be a mechanic first 😂
I used to kinda pride myself on mcguyver/ghetto rigging moments like these that I'd come upon in my own life while working on a car, but this was a REALLY dope idea that I never thought of... Thanks man! You just literally saved me a trip to the auto parts store where I was intending to grab one of the tools you were taking about, not the filter wrench but the filter bit that goes on a ratchet...I keep losing the damn things after every oil change...I coulda just did this
I’m glad I could help! It’s really is mostly last resort thing, but never fails me. The filters are meant to be hand tight, but sometimes people don’t realize how easily it’s seals. I like to put some oil on the gasket of the new filter, it helps it seal and it comes off easier next time.
You Sir are a life saver if you never do anything else in your life know you have made a difference I had all but given up and then stumbled upon this ....Life is good again Thank you
If the filter still won’t turn after cranking on it with the screwdriver in it, start tapping on the side of the filter up near where it screws on with a hammer as you crank on the handle. It might be enough to help break it loose when hitting it and turning it at the same time.
Thanks for the video. I've got a story to add. Followed all the normal steps (oil filter wrench, friction wrench, oiling up the seal, driving the screwdriver into it and cranking on that... only got it to budge a tiny amount. Tried a chisel on the inner lip. Would not move. The access was small so after one or two different holes with the screwdriver all the way through, the metal just started to tear apart and no place to work on it. Next up? I took the oil filter wrench (cap) and drilled holes around the sides and the top and hammered the wrench onto the top of what was left of the oil filter, then attached it with several sheet metal screws, making sure to hit solid metal. Attach a 2 foot breaker bar and I was finally able to get it going. No sign of corrosion, all I can think is it was put on dry with no lubricant. Don't know, but it was a worse case scenario.
The best was when the filter is on so good w/ a cheap cheap filter that it bends like tin foil w/ an oil filter clamp. You gotta get a high quality one where you can remove it w/ a socket wrench on the end.
I have the kind with a housing and a bolt on the end an I cannot get the damn thing off I have every tool except the right size socket for the damn bolt.
@@lifeistoshortgottobeoptimi8707 same here mine would not come off I googled it and said it's fine to just not replace it this time and put the new oil in but you can only go like half the miles with the new oil until it absolutely needs replacing. I'm just gonna have to eat the cost and take it in. Anywhere I take it wants like $100 cause I have a weird car when the filter and oil (even the nice brands) are $45 at Walmart. I really hate paying for shit ik I could do myself. I'll just have to ask they don't over tighten it and hope they actually do.
This is super sick but just be careful if you actually try this. Sometimes the screwdriver will slice all the way through the filter and cut it in two leaving you with half of a filter and a shredded jagged edge to try and remove
For people with less room I just punch a small hole near the grooves where the metal is the thickest, place the flat head screwdriver not inside the hole but against the opening of the hole and push it to the left or use a small hammer or ur palm to hit it and slowly loosen the filter then just use your hand to unscrew it
I have a 2000 ZR2 Blazer, and let me tell you a stuck oil filter on this is a pain in the ass to get off because of the lack of space to work with and you can't get very good leverage without it being on a lift. I got one of those socket wrench end caps fit to the correct size, and it still just kept slipping off over and over they suck. Had a friend bring me to Napa, bought a band wrench and it finally came off with some serious elbow grease. I've changed the oil over the past 12 years, and I always was able to get it off with my hands wearing gorilla grip gloves, but this was the first time I had a shop change my oil and do the lube service. I don't know if they forgot to put some of the old oil around the seal and/or they really just tightened it that hard but holy fuck it took every ounce of my strength to even budge it. Don't need to torque the hell out of it just make sure it's snug.
The best way to open a filter is to get an old timing belt and a piece of piping about 1 1/2" cut 2 cuts at the end of the pipe with cutting wheel turn the timing belt inside out slot the belt into the cuts in the pipe with a loop on the belt that fits over the filter then with a pipe wrench on the other end of the pipe it will open any filter
They sell the removal metal sockets for oil filters at Walmart, they’re like 3 to 6 dollars, and you can use them as many times as you want, great for small spaces like on my Chevy spark
We just tried the screwdriver method on a neighbors truck and it didn’t work. It just opened the side of the oil filter like a tin can. Must be torqued to hulk specs!!
For anyone lost and needing help with the tools you got heres how i did it. I had a pair of channel locks that were barely too small for mine. So i just squeezed the shit out of the bottom of the filter to make the pliers fit and it worked.
My go to is to use a large jaw channel lock pipe wrench. Parallel with the filter. Can use a second channel lock to turn but I find just the one works well. Twist it like you’re using a screwdriver. Easy and fits in most places, just cut off the length of the handle if needed. Don’t need to hammer in a screwdriver.
The best thing I ever found was an oil filter strap wrench from advanced auto. Looks like a square bar with a seat belt strap. It was eight bucks and has saved me hundreds of hours of time on trucks and earth movers with limited access panels. Everyone laughed at first but after seeing it in action, everyone in the shop has one including the died hard Snap-on only fudds.
Works but be careful not to go too low on the filter or you might hit the threads that hold the filter on the engine. I had to go all the way through both filter walls because the metal tore using just one wall.
Damn nice trick! Thanks. Unfortunately, I gave up on mine and just drained the oil but I’ll try this on my next oil change (2k miles) since the filter needs to be changed asap
Was doing an oil chnage on a 94 park Avenue, used the oil clamp tool, nothing! Ended up flattening the grooves so i I couldn't use the other oil filter cup tool. Tried this method and BOOM! It came off. Thank you for the vid
Well I have a stupid question. I couldn't get the filter off and just changed the oil anyway. Now if I get the filter off, but not drain the new oil....will all the new oil start coming out of the oil filter hole?
Damn that was tight on there,looked like mine ,where i had to actually take a chissel and hammer to the top of ripped off filter and hammer it till it started to turn. 30 min job turned into a 12 hour job
Just changed the oil on my 2018 Corolla for the first time by myself. The process was easy but removing the oil filter was beyond a royal pain in the ass. I bought and ended up returning three different kinds of wrenches cause the damn thing would not budge for two whole hours. Tried this trick and it only took twenty seconds. I will definitely remember this for the future.
Great method bro, It worked for me everytime some dude tried to tie it down by rachet. Bonus: if any of you try this method, stay far away from the screw part that you will spin your oil filter in. If you damage it, it’ll bring the work to a different level. Dont ask how I know haha
Having problems getting the old one off my '94 XJS. Thing I can't figure out is that Jaguar very clearly emphasizes that a new one should only be put on by HAND tightening (about 1/2 turn after contact made). So, why is it so damn hard to get them OFF by hand (assuming the PO followed directions)?
BEWARE, this screwdriver tip sometimes works, other times leads to a major headache, and you will wish you had spent the less than $10 on the proper oil filter removal tool. Read on...and sorry for the mini-novel below...but read to the end and also the replies to this post... I was doing an oil change for a friend last night. Neither of my tools would grab onto the oil filter enough to turn it. I have one tool that slips around the filter and you tighten with the handle to grab onto the filter and turn it. There is very little space to work with, so I could not tighten enough, and be able to turn the tool. So this was not gonna work. The other tool I have is similar, but it goes around the end of the filter. You attach it to a ratchet, and as you turn the ratchet, it closes in on and grips the filter. This would not grab onto the filter. I think mine is just a little bit too large for this pretty small (width) filter. Also, the oil filter is at a weird angle and there is very little space to work with. This is a 2021 Toyota Highlander. So, after no success with either of my tools that usually work, I opted to try the old screwdriver method, as I had done that before probably 30 years ago and it worked fine. In the case of the oil change last night, after tapping the screwdriver thru the oil filter (both sides), when I began to try to turn it, the wall of the oil filter began to tear, and the oil filter was not turning at all. I tried a much larger (thicker) screwdriver, and it just tore more. I then tried to use channel locks to grab onto the filter, and this just further tore and began to cave in the oil filter. By this time, I was beginning to become concerned. And I may, or may not have thrown one of the tools at the neighbors house, lol. So, then, I went to the parts store to see if they had another oil filter tool that would help me out of this predicament. They did, it is a "cap", that fits over the end of the filter perfectly, and it has a hole in it where you attach your ratchet. I took the new filter with me to the parts store to make sure I got the right size, because they come in different sizes to accommodate different sized (widths) oil filters. I got back home, and tried it, but, because I have damaged the filter with my first attempts, the cap will not fit onto the now misshapened and partially caved in filter, it just spins when I turn it with the ratchet. So, I am stuck! But, I am going to try a couple more things this morning. If I am unsuccessful, then I will need to have the vehicle towed to a shop and pay them to remove the oil filter. My friend knows a guy that works at Toyota, and she called him. He said it would cost probably between $100 and $200 to remove the damaged filter, then add on the cost for an oil change. But, if the threads that the oil filter screws onto are at all damaged, even one thread (I knew better than to get even close to the threaded part with the screwdriver), then they must replace the entire oil filter unit / assembly, which he said would cost between $400 and $500, and then add the cost for an oil change. I am sure my friend will expect me to pay for either of these if it comes down to it. I think the issue here is that oil filters of today (at least some) are made with much thinner / weaker metal material for the housing than they were many many years ago. So the screwdriver method may lead you to the train-wreck that I am currently in the middle of, and it's not even my damned vehicle, but I am on the hook to resolve this issue. Also, when you put on a new filter, always wipe a little bit of new oil onto the rubber gasket, then don't over-tighten the filter. They say hand-tighten, then just a little bit more than that. I'm guessing this oil filter was way over-tightened, and combine that with not using the proper tool to remove it....yeah...good times... The moral of the story? Don't over-tighten the oil filter, and if needed, go buy the proper oil filter removal tool. I think the best one would be the "cap" type (that fits your oil filter). Ask your local parts store...the one I got costed $5.99 plus tax. I will use it to put the new filter on, if by some miracle I can remove this half destroyed filter to begin with. UPDATE: I ended up buying 2 more oil filter removal tools and one of them worked to grab the damaged / partially crushed in oil filter. What a relief, and a few lessons learned here...
I learned that Ive been putting filters back on the wrong way all my life. I always retightened them with a filter, but I almost couldn't get this last one off until I used a filter wrench with a rubber strap. Unfortunately, I tightened it back on with the filter wrench. So, if I cant get it off next time, Ill have to do this, lol. Next time, Ill just hand tighten it by a 3/4 turn after the gasket touches the base.
Thanks so much for this video. Literally just had to do this to wife’s car since the damn oil filter wrench just crumbled the filter. Looks like a can’t trust oil change places anymore that want to crank it on there way to tight...
Bad idea!! I used to do this all the time until I had to remove a factory filter on a Dodge that would not budge. The screw driver ripped the filter in half!! I use a large channel lock (adjustable plyers) it works for all size filters. Usually if you oil the o-ring and install it hand tight. It will come off by hand as well.
The problem we all have is that we don’t have enough room to fit anything
I did not had enough room
But I found an angel and worked hard..
You can do it brother
every
Ong bro I’m trying to remove one from a street stock
you need to get access from under the car , if it’s completely blocked you may need to remove some piece of the car to gain more room. Rarely is an oil filter impossible to access anymore, especially with 2010s-present day. But never know
Yeah my s10 is a bitch lol
59 seconds in and I didn’t have to watch the rest. I knew exactly what you were getting at. Thanks for this video. It saved my life.
Unless you have a 2008 f150 and realize ford had their heads so far up their asses when they decided on where to place the oil filter
Honestly tho
fyi...as long as you're going the full destructive method of removing your old oil filter, might's well punch a hole in the bottom and drain out as much oil as you can first. Might even reduce the suction effect.
Wow
exactly right
I just want to say that this was the best video ever. I was working on my 01 Miata today and the filter was not coming off. It took 3 trips to the store and 3 tools before looking for other methods. I finally tired this and got it off in about 5 minutes. I still cannot believe. I can’t thank you enough
PLEASE READ: You can damage your threads on your stud by doing this. I just did it and now my car is in the shop to replace the stud/adapter. MAKE SURE YOU PIERCE FAR AWAY FROM THE ENGINE. Hope I saved someone’s time and money
You can chase the threads…
Assholes at the shop shouldn’t have tightened the damn thing so much then lol
I've had the screwdriver destroy a filter and still not loosen so be careful with this.
Started happening to me, I got some 5 minute epoxy and glued a cheap socket cap to the filter. Quick and very effective.
Just tried this guy’s method and that’s what happened to me. I ended up having to use a strap wrench-like tool to get it off. I couldn’t believe this method didn’t have problems for many people.
First, I would recommend using a screwdriver to pierce the bottom, and thus drain out the oil. I've had screwdrivers that just peel through the filter rather than turn the filter off, so I used a one inch wood chisel with the flat side towards the rotation...no peeling through the filter.
I knew about this trick but I was reluctant to try it. I had little room and my filter had already started to buckle from the strap wrench. After watching your video I grew a pair and went for it. It worked. I am repaying you with a like and a sub. You ended three hours of frustration for me.👍
Fuck I only had 25 mins in and I searched and found all this😅
@@gilbertrodriguez67 fuck those filters man
Same here. 3 hours wasted waiting on another filter wrench for it not to work. I had little room but it worked.
Same bro 2hrs and just said fuck it 2 fucking minutes I hate my self
This helped so much!! I was struggling for about 30 minutes then I saw your video. Saved me so much time!
You saved me money and time, friend! I spent almost 2 hours under my car trying in so many ways to take it off from my Ford Ka, and only with your tips, I got it. Thanks a lot!
Me too 2 hours minimum
Damn, you have all kind of room, I have a GM truck and I can hardly even get an oil filter wrench on mine, damn engineers know how to screw up autos for sure.
"Make sure you pop a filter socket on that sucker and hit it with an impact wrench. Better safe than sorry"
-- Jiffy Lube Supervisor
aw, that's no fun!
Trickle up what kind of filter socket are you talking about?
Not possible on most European/Japanese cars. Theres simply no room for anything but your hands. Unless you start taking stuff apart but who wants to do that for a simple oil change.
I’m having a problem with a 2000 mazda protege because the engineers decided let’s put the oil filter and have the alternator to the right of the the holding bracket for the exhaust manifold to the left of it and the drive shaft below that.
So that's why I had to epoxy the socket to the filter. Worked anyway, can apply a lot of torque in a limited access space.
Thank you . The hammer/screwdriver worked for me after trying to get it off for about 20 minutes
Thank you! This helped so much. Half the filter was surrounded by the side of the block, couldn’t even wrap one hand around it. A good engineer needs to be a mechanic first 😂
Thank you for this tip !! First time changing oil today and this was a big help ! 👌🏽
Omg your a life saver changed dozens of vehicles never had one this stuck for a moment I thought it was reverse threading!!!
Brutally brilliant, thank you for the tip - now to see if I actually have the room up in there!
I used to kinda pride myself on mcguyver/ghetto rigging moments like these that I'd come upon in my own life while working on a car, but this was a REALLY dope idea that I never thought of... Thanks man! You just literally saved me a trip to the auto parts store where I was intending to grab one of the tools you were taking about, not the filter wrench but the filter bit that goes on a ratchet...I keep losing the damn things after every oil change...I coulda just did this
I’m glad I could help! It’s really is mostly last resort thing, but never fails me. The filters are meant to be hand tight, but sometimes people don’t realize how easily it’s seals. I like to put some oil on the gasket of the new filter, it helps it seal and it comes off easier next time.
That's why I never go to Jiffy Lube
Thanks for the tip! I was a bit worried but piece of cake!
The video saved my day. This trick worked perfectly on my 2006 tundra. Thank you!
You Sir are a life saver if you never do anything else in your life know you have made a difference I had all but given up and then stumbled upon this ....Life is good again Thank you
If the filter still won’t turn after cranking on it with the screwdriver in it, start tapping on the side of the filter up near where it screws on with a hammer as you crank on the handle. It might be enough to help break it loose when hitting it and turning it at the same time.
This was so helpful, I had a “grip tight” but it still didn’t do the job. I turned to TH-cam and this did the trick!
Worked like a charm. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for the video. I've got a story to add. Followed all the normal steps (oil filter wrench, friction wrench, oiling up the seal, driving the screwdriver into it and cranking on that... only got it to budge a tiny amount. Tried a chisel on the inner lip. Would not move. The access was small so after one or two different holes with the screwdriver all the way through, the metal just started to tear apart and no place to work on it.
Next up? I took the oil filter wrench (cap) and drilled holes around the sides and the top and hammered the wrench onto the top of what was left of the oil filter, then attached it with several sheet metal screws, making sure to hit solid metal. Attach a 2 foot breaker bar and I was finally able to get it going. No sign of corrosion, all I can think is it was put on dry with no lubricant. Don't know, but it was a worse case scenario.
The best was when the filter is on so good w/ a cheap cheap filter that it bends like tin foil w/ an oil filter clamp. You gotta get a high quality one where you can remove it w/ a socket wrench on the end.
Have a K&N with a 25mm head that is rounding off as we speak
I have the kind with a housing and a bolt on the end an I cannot get the damn thing off I have every tool except the right size socket for the damn bolt.
Trying to get mines off to the mechanics at the shop over tightened it now it seems impossible to take off and I've already bent it
@@lifeistoshortgottobeoptimi8707 same here mine would not come off I googled it and said it's fine to just not replace it this time and put the new oil in but you can only go like half the miles with the new oil until it absolutely needs replacing. I'm just gonna have to eat the cost and take it in. Anywhere I take it wants like $100 cause I have a weird car when the filter and oil (even the nice brands) are $45 at Walmart. I really hate paying for shit ik I could do myself. I'll just have to ask they don't over tighten it and hope they actually do.
This helped me today! Thank you sooo much!!
You saved me time and money,honey, you earned a new sub, everytime a video helps me ,I help them.
I thought to do this and just wanted to make sure it was a valid technique. Thank you. It worked like a charm.
This is super sick but just be careful if you actually try this. Sometimes the screwdriver will slice all the way through the filter and cut it in two leaving you with half of a filter and a shredded jagged edge to try and remove
Just happened to me
@@KILLROY223 😂 I know, 2x
This video was a life saver!! ❤
dudde u saved my life. Thx for the video u r the best
For people with less room I just punch a small hole near the grooves where the metal is the thickest, place the flat head screwdriver not inside the hole but against the opening of the hole and push it to the left or use a small hammer or ur palm to hit it and slowly loosen the filter then just use your hand to unscrew it
Thanks I was struggling taking the filter but your video help me
Wow this worked! Spent over an hour trying different tools (old filter tool, didn't work). 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I have a 2000 ZR2 Blazer, and let me tell you a stuck oil filter on this is a pain in the ass to get off because of the lack of space to work with and you can't get very good leverage without it being on a lift. I got one of those socket wrench end caps fit to the correct size, and it still just kept slipping off over and over they suck. Had a friend bring me to Napa, bought a band wrench and it finally came off with some serious elbow grease. I've changed the oil over the past 12 years, and I always was able to get it off with my hands wearing gorilla grip gloves, but this was the first time I had a shop change my oil and do the lube service. I don't know if they forgot to put some of the old oil around the seal and/or they really just tightened it that hard but holy fuck it took every ounce of my strength to even budge it. Don't need to torque the hell out of it just make sure it's snug.
The best way to open a filter is to get an old timing belt and a piece of piping about 1 1/2" cut 2 cuts at the end of the pipe with cutting wheel turn the timing belt inside out slot the belt into the cuts in the pipe with a loop on the belt that fits over the filter then with a pipe wrench on the other end of the pipe it will open any filter
Worked like a charm for my John Deere tractor. Thank you.
Thanks a lot this saved me a lot of work 🤙🏽
They sell the removal metal sockets for oil filters at Walmart, they’re like 3 to 6 dollars, and you can use them as many times as you want, great for small spaces like on my Chevy spark
And if you don’t have enough space use a ratchet extension never use a screwdriver
We just tried the screwdriver method on a neighbors truck and it didn’t work. It just opened the side of the oil filter like a tin can. Must be torqued to hulk specs!!
For anyone lost and needing help with the tools you got heres how i did it. I had a pair of channel locks that were barely too small for mine. So i just squeezed the shit out of the bottom of the filter to make the pliers fit and it worked.
My go to is to use a large jaw channel lock pipe wrench. Parallel with the filter. Can use a second channel lock to turn but I find just the one works well. Twist it like you’re using a screwdriver. Easy and fits in most places, just cut off the length of the handle if needed. Don’t need to hammer in a screwdriver.
Thank you good sir. This was extremely helpful.
The best thing I ever found was an oil filter strap wrench from advanced auto. Looks like a square bar with a seat belt strap. It was eight bucks and has saved me hundreds of hours of time on trucks and earth movers with limited access panels.
Everyone laughed at first but after seeing it in action, everyone in the shop has one including the died hard Snap-on only fudds.
The chain ones work really good too!
Works but be careful not to go too low on the filter or you might hit the threads that hold the filter on the engine. I had to go all the way through both filter walls because the metal tore using just one wall.
I mean theres no more use to the oil filter so does it really matter if you damage it? Its just getting tosses away right? Thanks.
Damn !!! Now you cant reuse that filter on your mother inlaws car... :O
Hahaha she can use it as a Butt Plug,
comes pre used
Why not? LOL
Says who?
Damn nice trick! Thanks. Unfortunately, I gave up on mine and just drained the oil but I’ll try this on my next oil change (2k miles) since the filter needs to be changed asap
I found putting sand paper over the filter, with the filter wrench gets a good hold on it
This worked perfectly! Thanks
Thank you 🙏🤩 this will be my new trick for life!!
Thanks for posting,just did this with no issues afterwards
I just used my pipe wrench on my 07 Jeep GC Laredo. The filter was a Mobil One 209A. The wrench removed it with ease.
Helpful! I mat try it, but am concerned if I mess it up all of a sudden i’ll have no filter!
Was doing an oil chnage on a 94 park Avenue, used the oil clamp tool, nothing! Ended up flattening the grooves so i I couldn't use the other oil filter cup tool. Tried this method and BOOM! It came off. Thank you for the vid
Now we're talking.. 👍🏻
Great tip.
Many thanks.
👏👏👏 Thank you for sharing this one helped!!
Thank you!! i was so stuck with my filter, your video really helped me
It's supposed to be a little bit past hand tight. That trick is old school but in a pinch works
This video was very helpful thank you!👍
It works for me, this really saved my day!
Well I have a stupid question. I couldn't get the filter off and just changed the oil anyway. Now if I get the filter off, but not drain the new oil....will all the new oil start coming out of the oil filter hole?
Damn that was tight on there,looked like mine ,where i had to actually take a chissel and hammer to the top of ripped off filter and hammer it till it started to turn.
30 min job turned into a 12 hour job
Just changed the oil on my 2018 Corolla for the first time by myself. The process was easy but removing the oil filter was beyond a royal pain in the ass. I bought and ended up returning three different kinds of wrenches cause the damn thing would not budge for two whole hours. Tried this trick and it only took twenty seconds. I will definitely remember this for the future.
You saved my life and day lol. I never had a oil filter as stuck as the one I had on my car. Idk why I made it so tight.
Wonderful. Are you going to use the same puncture method for tightening the replacement oil filter ?? 😬
This actually helped me today. However, it is important not to damage the middle bolt that is inside, keeping a bit of a distance is safe.
Great method bro, It worked for me everytime some dude tried to tie it down by rachet.
Bonus: if any of you try this method, stay far away from the screw part that you will spin your oil filter in. If you damage it, it’ll bring the work to a different level. Dont ask how I know haha
Good advice!
Thankyou buddy. Really wish I had that much room though
I use multi purpose auto grease around the oil filter gasket ring, works great.
A big pair of channel locks is what I use, dont put it on no more than hand tight, not screaming tight either.
Never ever do this. If it's really stuck it will just rip it apart. Then you have bigger problems.
Having problems getting the old one off my '94 XJS. Thing I can't figure out is that Jaguar very clearly emphasizes that a new one should only be put on by HAND tightening (about 1/2 turn after contact made). So, why is it so damn hard to get them OFF by hand (assuming the PO followed directions)?
Jaguar v12 heats the filter gasket more than most motors. Use anti seize on the gasket where he used new oil.
Thanks this helped me for my diesel on a sailboat.
Glad to help!
This shit actually worked after me trying to get the damn thing off for 1/2 an hour. THANKS!!!
You saved my day thabks
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU 🙏🏾 saved my rum with this trick 👍🏾
Congratulations. Feels good to beat the screw.
BEWARE, this screwdriver tip sometimes works, other times leads to a major headache, and you will wish you had spent the less than $10 on the proper oil filter removal tool. Read on...and sorry for the mini-novel below...but read to the end and also the replies to this post...
I was doing an oil change for a friend last night. Neither of my tools would grab onto the oil filter enough to turn it. I have one tool that slips around the filter and you tighten with the handle to grab onto the filter and turn it. There is very little space to work with, so I could not tighten enough, and be able to turn the tool. So this was not gonna work. The other tool I have is similar, but it goes around the end of the filter. You attach it to a ratchet, and as you turn the ratchet, it closes in on and grips the filter. This would not grab onto the filter. I think mine is just a little bit too large for this pretty small (width) filter. Also, the oil filter is at a weird angle and there is very little space to work with. This is a 2021 Toyota Highlander.
So, after no success with either of my tools that usually work, I opted to try the old screwdriver method, as I had done that before probably 30 years ago and it worked fine. In the case of the oil change last night, after tapping the screwdriver thru the oil filter (both sides), when I began to try to turn it, the wall of the oil filter began to tear, and the oil filter was not turning at all. I tried a much larger (thicker) screwdriver, and it just tore more. I then tried to use channel locks to grab onto the filter, and this just further tore and began to cave in the oil filter. By this time, I was beginning to become concerned. And I may, or may not have thrown one of the tools at the neighbors house, lol.
So, then, I went to the parts store to see if they had another oil filter tool that would help me out of this predicament. They did, it is a "cap", that fits over the end of the filter perfectly, and it has a hole in it where you attach your ratchet. I took the new filter with me to the parts store to make sure I got the right size, because they come in different sizes to accommodate different sized (widths) oil filters. I got back home, and tried it, but, because I have damaged the filter with my first attempts, the cap will not fit onto the now misshapened and partially caved in filter, it just spins when I turn it with the ratchet.
So, I am stuck! But, I am going to try a couple more things this morning. If I am unsuccessful, then I will need to have the vehicle towed to a shop and pay them to remove the oil filter. My friend knows a guy that works at Toyota, and she called him. He said it would cost probably between $100 and $200 to remove the damaged filter, then add on the cost for an oil change. But, if the threads that the oil filter screws onto are at all damaged, even one thread (I knew better than to get even close to the threaded part with the screwdriver), then they must replace the entire oil filter unit / assembly, which he said would cost between $400 and $500, and then add the cost for an oil change. I am sure my friend will expect me to pay for either of these if it comes down to it.
I think the issue here is that oil filters of today (at least some) are made with much thinner / weaker metal material for the housing than they were many many years ago. So the screwdriver method may lead you to the train-wreck that I am currently in the middle of, and it's not even my damned vehicle, but I am on the hook to resolve this issue. Also, when you put on a new filter, always wipe a little bit of new oil onto the rubber gasket, then don't over-tighten the filter. They say hand-tighten, then just a little bit more than that. I'm guessing this oil filter was way over-tightened, and combine that with not using the proper tool to remove it....yeah...good times...
The moral of the story? Don't over-tighten the oil filter, and if needed, go buy the proper oil filter removal tool. I think the best one would be the "cap" type (that fits your oil filter). Ask your local parts store...the one I got costed $5.99 plus tax. I will use it to put the new filter on, if by some miracle I can remove this half destroyed filter to begin with.
UPDATE: I ended up buying 2 more oil filter removal tools and one of them worked to grab the damaged / partially crushed in oil filter. What a relief, and a few lessons learned here...
Hey man Im catching hell with this exact same issue where the screwdriver technique just fucked it up what did you use?
You are a genius thanks for saving me money
I learned that Ive been putting filters back on the wrong way all my life. I always retightened them with a filter, but I almost couldn't get this last one off until I used a filter wrench with a rubber strap. Unfortunately, I tightened it back on with the filter wrench. So, if I cant get it off next time, Ill have to do this, lol. Next time, Ill just hand tighten it by a 3/4 turn after the gasket touches the base.
You sir are a genius
Thanks so much for this video. Literally just had to do this to wife’s car since the damn oil filter wrench just crumbled the filter. Looks like a can’t trust oil change places anymore that want to crank it on there way to tight...
Any damage from over tightening? Strip a thread?
Thanks, brother. You got me out of a jam.
Just what I needed thank you
Worked for me. Thank you!
Thanks so much, doing my first ever oil change, the filter was absolutely solid this managed to free it tho
No it was t
I was so frustrated trying to get the filter off my car. This worked in an instant. Have your like good sir
I havent done a oil change before, so to loosen oil filter it is clockwise direction as in video, because you are screwing filter onto the threads
You are not less than a legend it worked for me today mate thanks with like and sub
Thanks! Glad to help!
Holy shit dude. Thanks. Idk how i tighten them like hulk but cant loosen them. Done in 5 mins compared to 20 mins breaking my wrist
When you have a big space like that, is a piece of cake the hardest thing is when you don't have space
Thank you for this!
What to do if the oil filter just gets ripped by the screwdriver
I'm trying this out tomorrow!
Bad idea!! I used to do this all the time until I had to remove a factory filter on a Dodge that would not budge. The screw driver ripped the filter in half!! I use a large channel lock (adjustable plyers) it works for all size filters. Usually if you oil the o-ring and install it hand tight. It will come off by hand as well.
Damn. You're a fucking genius. Thank you.